fragility of goodness, The
Book Description
In this profound exploration of ancient wisdom, Martha Nussbaum examines one of humanity's most enduring spiritual challenges: how do we maintain our moral center when life's most precious gifts remain beyond our control? Drawing from the rich philosophical and literary traditions of ancient Greece, she investigates what the Greeks called "moral luck" - the troubling reality that external forces can shatter even the most virtuous life.
Through careful analysis of both Greek philosophical texts and dramatic works, Nussbaum reveals how ancient thinkers grappled with questions that continue to shape our spiritual understanding today. When tragedy strikes the good person, when circumstances beyond our influence determine our fate, how do we evaluate the worth of a human life? What does it mean to live well in a world where goodness itself proves fragile?
This scholarly yet accessible work bridges the gap between ancient insight and contemporary ethical reflection. Nussbaum demonstrates how Greek tragedy and philosophy offer profound perspectives on vulnerability, moral character, and the human condition. Her integrated approach to literary and philosophical sources illuminates dimensions of Greek thought that speak directly to modern seekers wrestling with questions of meaning, purpose, and resilience.
For readers interested in the intersection of philosophy, spirituality, and human experience, this work offers both intellectual depth and practical wisdom about navigating life's uncertainties while maintaining moral integrity.
Who Is This For?
📖 Reading Level: Long (> 400 pages) (~15 hours)
📄 Length: 544 pages
What You'll Discover
- ✓ Understand spiritual ethics
- ✓ Explore Greek drama (Tragedy)
- ✓ Explore Tragedie grecque
- ✓ Explore General & miscellaneous ancient literature - lite
- ✓ Explore Ethics--greece--history
- ✓ Explore Ethics, Ancient, in literature
- ✓ Explore Ethics, Greek
- ✓ Explore Histoire